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Selina Martin Blurb pdf
Selina Martin is a Toronto-based art rock siren with an unforgettable voice, a striking ear for melody, and a gigantic stage presence. On top of it all, she’s an incredibly high calibre songwriter. Her music is as original as it is catchy, and as playful as it is powerful. Selina mines emotional depths & gathers melodic tailings and even though some of the subject matter might be dark, there’s a deftness & dexterity in her approach that gives one the distinct feeling that she’s never taking herself too seriously.
Known also as a skilled composer/ arranger/producer and multi-instrumentalist, Selina has performed on and contributed to numerous recordings by her friends & peers (Rheostatics, Veda Hille, Bob Wiseman, Justin Rutledge, N.Q. Arbuckle...). Recent works of note include co-producing and arranging Martin Tielli’s The Ghost Of Danny Gross, Parts 1 & 2, as well as composing and performing in the theatrical and musical adaptation of the book Five Hole: Tales of Hockey Erotica by Dave Bidini. Throw into the bargain that she’s a gifted actor (Martin used to be one of the 4 main members of Bald Ego Theatre, a highly acclaimed innovative & impressionistic theatre company) and you’ve got one very intriguing package.
Selina has toured across Canada, the US and Europe with two critically acclaimed CDs under her belt. Her third full length recording, Disaster Fantasies, was skillfully produced by indie wunderkind Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Ohbijou, The Coast), and is her most focused album to date. It’s a fierce collection of genre-defying tunes, including an exceptional cover version of The Spirit of Radio (Rush), and is available on CD and vinyl across Canada as of June 29, 2010.
PRESS:
“Selina Martin kicks
some serious ass.” – Mote Magazine
**** “ [Life Drawing Without Instruction] is full of sneaky wisdom and good tunes that refuse to know where to draw the line.” – The Globe and Mail
“Martin’s singing is astounding.” – Toronto Star
**** “Martin revels in the unexpected on her tough, tender, and frequently astounding sophomore effort.” – Ottawa Xpress
“Any fan of Jane Siberry or the Rheostatics will instantly be captivated by Martin’s impressionistic approach but her songs stand on their own… Thrilling.” – Exclaim
**** “Life Drawing Without Instruction is a compelling collection, showcasing Martin’s musicianship, vocal talent and songwriting. From supple, lilting songs to swaggering anthems Martin shows off her musical range and versatility.” – Vue Magazine
“Martin blew in like a breath of
fresh air with a voice full of
beauty and angst and a wholly
unique writing sensibility.”
– View Magazine
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Selina’s song 20 Miles is featured in the Canadian road film One Week, which debuted
at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.
• Selina penned and performed the soundtrack for – and is animated along with The
Five Hole Band in – the award winning short film Five Hole by Cam Christiansen,
based on the book by Dave Bidini (Rheostatics).
• Act of God, the new documentary by Jennifer Baichwall (Manufactured Landscapes),
with film score by Fred Frith, Martin Tielli (Rheostatics), Dave Bidini, and Selina
Martin opens the 2009 Hot Docs festival.
• Selina shared the stage with Ani Di Franco at the Vancouver Folk Festival and
received a 1500 person standing ovation. She has also shared the stage with Feist,
Kathleen Edwards, The Rheostatics, Oh Susannah, Bob Wiseman, The Skydiggers,
Veda Hille and many more.
• Selina’s second full-length album, Life Drawing Without Instruction, was one of CBC
radio 3’s top albums of 2005 and is on Gord Downie’s (The Tragically Hip) web-list of
“Music You Should Hear”
SHORT BIO 120words
Toronto-based, Ottawa Valley raised, Selina Martin is a high-powered art pop siren who has toured across Canada, the US and Europe, has 2 critically acclaimed CD’s under her belt, and is releasing her 3rd at the end of June, 2010. Disaster Fantasies promises to be her most focused & accessible recording to date.It is a fierce collection of genre-defying tunes skillfully produced by Toronto indie wunderkind Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Ohbijou, The Coast), and will be available on CD and vinyl. She has an unforgettable voice, a striking ear for melody, a gigantic stage presence and on top of it all, is an incredibly high calibre songwriter. Her music is as original as it is catchy, and as playful as it is powerful.
"Martin's singing is astounding " - Toronto Star
"Any fan of Jane Siberry or the Rheostatics will instantly be captivated by Martin's impressionistic approach, but her songs stand on their own... Thrilling" - Exclaim
"Martin blew in like a breath of fresh air with a voice full of beauty and angst and a wholly unique writing sensibility" - View Magazine
4/4 stars - Selina Martin has the voice of a thrift-shop angel and the eye of an eagle circling over it's prey" - The Globe & Mail
Exclaim Magazine June 2010
Selina Martin
Disaster Fantasies
By Eric Hill
The flurry of pop punches that introduces Miss Martin's third album jellies up the knees, so when the suggestion to "Breathe In" comes around on track five, that's basically all you can do. Her "Can rock" guitar attack is backed by a fine storytelling ear for detail and savvy avoidance of the traffic merge that strands other female artists in the carpool lane. Time spent working with Dave Bidini and Martin Tielli on the Five Hole Band's Tales of Hockey Erotica transfers over in the form of brave studio experimentation. Vocal layering, singing saws and wine glasses, plus guest kalimba by Laura Barrett, take many tracks into a nice twilight zone of sound. The little wink to the Talking Heads on "Rape During Wartime" is a masterful dissimulation of the political into the party, another of her skill sets. And for pure Canadiana, what could be cooler than a fragile, jazzy take on "Spirit of the Radio"? Insert boho finger-snapping sounds here. (Independent)